Amazon gets going with 3,000+ satellite launch plan

Amazon has entered the low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet arena with a significant milestone - the launch of two Kuiper test satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. This marks the beginning of a constellation project that will comprise more than three thousand satellites, a scale similar to SpaceX's satellite internet constellation, making it the largest of its kind in history. Both Kuiper and Starlink satellite internet services aim to provide internet access to underserved areas through portable satellite dishes. 

Amazon gets going with 3,000+ satellite launch plan

Amazon's decision to launch the Kuiper satellites raised eyebrows in the industry due to its choice of launch services providers, excluding SpaceX. When it comes to launching LEO satellites, SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket has been the go-to choice for its rapid cadence, availability, and cost-effectiveness.

Creating a new LEO constellation demands substantial investment in placing payloads into orbit before establishing a large enough customer base to cover operating and production costs. Amazon's commitment to Kuiper includes a $10 billion investment, encompassing launch contracts, terminal production, and other investments.

United Launch Alliance (ULA) has secured the majority of launch contracts for the Kuiper program. Before Jeff Bezos left Amazon, he secured nine launches for ULA's Atlas V rocket. Subsequently, ULA and Amazon continued negotiations, resulting in an additional deal for 38 launches, a year after Bezos's departure.

Today's launch is a pivotal step in Amazon's quest to manufacture its satellite terminals, which will enable the production of the 3,236 satellites required for providing internet services. The decision to launch on the Atlas rocket, rather than ULA's newer Vulcan Centaur, was made in August after the Vulcan Centaur test article experienced issues on the launch pad. The full Kuiper deployment plan is slated to continue until 2029.

Amazon has outlined a nine-month gap between today's launch and the deployment of the first operational Kuiper satellites. These test satellites were placed in orbit at a slightly lower altitude of 500 kilometers compared to the typical altitude for such satellites. Following the launch at 2:06 pm local time, the second stage of the Atlas V, Centaur, separated from the first stage approximately five minutes after liftoff.

While the Vulcan Centaur rocket uses the same generation of the second stage design as the Atlas, it features a new first stage named Vulcan, powered by engines from Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos' rocket company established over two decades ago.

These test satellites will enable Amazon to evaluate its satellite terminals, spacecraft, and Earth stations, forming the crucial link in the satellite internet data transfer chain. SpaceX, which has launched over four thousand Starlink satellites, employs lasers on some of them to reduce the need for frequent communication with ground stations.

Amazon's Kuiper user terminals, measuring 11 inches in area and one inch thick, are expected to be produced for approximately $400 each. If today's satellite deployment goes as planned, Amazon aims for the first production Kuiper satellite launch in the first half of 2024, with beta testing for select commercial customers slated for the end of 2024.

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